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This page last updated May 10th, 2000 (downloadable MS Word file added) Want a nice, printable MS Word version of the handy "Deeble-Head's Guide to Earthquakes" --Just Click Here! It is a good idea to have a hard copy in your earthquake kit for quick reference! This is Dave n' Linda's definitive earthquake info-in-a-nutshell. Be sure to read this, short, easy summary of information and get yourself prepared! CONTENTS: The Deeble-Head’s Guide to Earthquake Awareness The Deeble-Head’s One Page Guide to Earthquake Preparedness The Deeble-Head’s Guide to Earthquake Kits Is the old "duck, cover, and hold" the wrong way to survive a quake?! The jury is out...read & decide for yourself. (Summarized from an article by Douglas F. Copp in American Survival Guide (July 2000) monitored for the Global Ideas Bank by Roger Knights. Doug Copp is Rescue Chief of the American Rescue Team International and has formulated tips for surviving an earthquake - the result of experiences in 60 countries and two years' work as the United Nations expert in Disaster Mitigation). Triangles of life In 1996, Copp made a film to prove his survival methodology. He recreated a model school and home, filling them with 20 mannequins. He collapsed the buildings with half the mannequins in 'duck and cover' position and the others in what Copp calls the triangle of life' position. 'The height of the object that remains acts as a kind of roofbeam to the void next to it, which will tend to end up with a sloping roof over it.' When buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings falling upon the objects or furniture inside somewhat crushes them, but the height of the object that remains acts as a kind of roofbeam to the space or void next to it, which will tend to end up with a sloping roof over it. This space for survival Copp terms the triangle of life. The larger and stronger the object, the less it will compact. The less it compacts, the larger the void next to it will be. Such triangles are the most common shape to be found in a collapsed building. When Copp and his crew re-entered the simulated earthquake scenario after the blast, they calculated that there would have been zero percent survival for the mannequins in 'duck and cover' position as against 100 per cent survival for those hiding in the triangles beside solid objects. Copp is categorical about the importance of this technique: "Everyone who simply ducks and covers when buildings collapse is crushed to death - every time without exception." Move
next to a solid object If you are in bed, roll off. If you find yourself in bed when an earthquake occurs, simply roll off it and you will find yourself in the safe void that exists around the bed.
Assume the fetal position
Avoid stairs
Avoid the bottom floor
Avoid doorways Lie
beside not inside your car Move
to near the outer walls of buildings or outside them It is rare for the ground outside buildings to open up and so the safest place to be in an earthquake is outside.
Create safe islands in public buildings The American Rescue Team International, PO Box 489, Alameda, CA 94501, USA (tel & fax 001 510 523 5493; e-mail: amerrescue@aol.com or americanrescueteam@msn.com; web: www.amerrescue.org). Their website has broadcasts from the inside of collapsed buildings. The 'triangle of life' concept is copyright (c) ARTI and is used with the permission of Doug Copp, Rescue Chief. The Deeble-Head’s Guide to Earthquake Awareness by Dave n’ Linda Bay Area Earthquake Fun Facts: There is a 67% chance of a magnitude 7+ earthquake occurring within the next 30 years (could be today!) on one of four major faults in the Bay Area: South Hayward Fault (Fremont to San Leandro), North Hayward Fault (San Leandro to San Pablo), San Andreas (Los Gatos to Hillsborough), and Rodgers Creek Fault (San Pablo Bay to Santa Rosa). Buildings may not crumble as severely as in the Taiwan and Turkey quakes, but things will be messy for awhile.
This quake will likely be more severe than the 1989 Loma Prieta quake because it will be closer to populated areas.
There are also major earthquake faults in Los Angeles and Seattle.
Most people are simply not prepared. Are you ready for a quake if it were to occur right NOW?
Realize that during/after a severe quake you may… …be asleep, at work, in a store, or away from home & family. …lose electricity, gas, water, phone service, internet connection (ouch!). …encounter hazardous situations such as fires, downed power lines, unsafe structures, chemical spills, etc. …not be able to just drive away from the area due to damaged roads & fallen overpasses, trees, etc. …not be able to safely live inside your home due to damage or aftershocks.
WITH JUST A LITTLE PREPARATION & PLANNING, YOU WILL BE READY TO HELP YOURSELF AND HELP OTHERS MAKE IT SAFELY THROUGH A BIG QUAKE.
The following is our basic guide on getting prepared for the Big One, including a list of materials to make an Earthquake Kit, and other helpful information.
PRINT IT OUT and READ IT!
>>We will send out periodic Emails (every six months or so), if you wish, reminding you to: change water change batteries replenish those supplies that we told you not to "borrow" from your kit! update your phone list maintain your readiness BACK TO TOPThe Deeble-Head’s One Page Guide to Earthquake Preparedness by Dave n’ Linda THE BASIC RULES: Be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 7 days (food, water, alternate shelter, etc) Store your Earthquake Kit, food, and water in a cool, very accessible place Never "borrow" stuff out of your Earthquake Kit. During a quake, do not panic and do not run outside. Get under a sturdy table/shelf and brace yourself. After the shaking stops, grab your Earthquake Kit and other useful items and go to an open area. As soon as possible, call your non-local contact person and report your status.
THINGS TO HAVE READY NOW: Earthquake Kit –see our separate list of suggested items. Reunification Plan –preplan where/how to meet up with your significant others, pick up kids, etc. Flashlight and comfy shoes next to your bed for possible night exits over broken window glass. Don’t forget to prepare for your pets too! Know now where other items are that may be useful:
PHONE CALLS: Set up a non-local contact person to whom your family can report status. Calling a local person will be difficult or impossible, but you may be able to call long distance. Cell phones may work even if your house line does not.
FOOD: Cook perishable food from your fridge & freezer on your grill or backpacking stove for the first day. Canned food is great, but get nutritious, less salty, lower fat foods! You’ll want the nutrition.
WATER: Store at least seven gallons per person & per pet. Buy bottled water or keep tap water in containers. Only store water for 6 months, then water your plants and replenish your supply. Other water sources: water heater (usually there is a faucet at the bottom!), & holding tank of toilet. Any questionable water source must be treated with iodine tablets or bleach, purified with a backpacking water filter (a conventional Brita water filter will NOT get rid of bacteria and viruses!!!), or boiled for at least one full minute.
GAS SHUTOFF: Have a gas shutoff tool. Know where your gas shutoff is (next to the gray gas meter). Test valve by turning 1/10 turn. Do NOT turn it off (1/4 turn). If you smell gas (rotten eggs), see physically damaged gas lines, or the unmarked dials on your gas meter are rotating quickly, there may be a leak. Turn off the gas! Do NOT turn it back on unless you know there are no leaks and know the procedure for 100% safely re-lighting water heater & furnace pilot lights.
ELECTRICITY SHUTOFF: Know where your circuit breakers or fuses are. Shut off main breaker if you witness arcing, burning insulation, blackened or hot switches and plugs, or any structural collapse. Use a wooden stick if breakers are wet or there is structural damage.
WATER SHUTOFF: Have a water shutoff tool. Know where your water shutoff is (usually underneath a concrete cover near or on the sidewalk near your house). Safe to turn on and off whenever.
FIRE EXTINGUISHER: Do not assume you will be able to put out a fire--call 911 before trying to put out a fire so they’ll be on their way while you make a quick attempt to put out the fire Recommended size fire extinguisher: 3A-40B:C because it has plenty of extinguishing material, but is not too heavy to manage. Read the directions on the fire extinguisher! Keep it in a central location & NOT in the box! Understand how to hold it, pull the pin, trigger it, and sweep back and forth at the BASE (not over the top) of the flames.
SHELTER: If you are not certain that your house is structurally sound, or if there are still aftershocks, you should sleep in a backyard, nearby park, or car, far away from unstable structures, trees, or power poles.
MISC TIPS: Your car and car battery are a good source of 12 volt power If you are driving when an earthquake hits, get away from sound walls, overpasses, freeway signs. BACK TO TOPThe Deeble-Head’s Guide to Earthquake Kits by Dave n’ Linda This is just a suggested list. Adjust items and determine quantity according to your personal preferences. Costs are shown on items we’ve bought recently. EARTHQUAKE KIT INVENTORY last update of list: July 8, 1999
Additionally, know exactly where these useful items are, if you own them: tent sleeping bag backpacking water filter blankets tools and supplies hibachi, gas grill, campstove items for personal hygiene
Keep in your car: food & water for a day to use while you try and get home sneakers (if you normally wear dress shoes to work) flashlight with batteries
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